DENPASAR, mybalinews.com – The Sadewa Bali Arts Foundation has officially launched Jalan Suara, a digital poetry musicalization album created in collaboration with the blind disability community in Bali.
This album marks a significant milestone in the practice of inclusive arts in Indonesia, where literary and musical expression merge in works brought to life by those who perceive the world not through sight, but through emotion and sound.
This release is part of The 6th Bali Creative Competition (BCC) and will culminate in a live performance of the poetry musicalizations on May 11, 2025, at Dharma Negara Alaya Hall, Denpasar, with an expected audience of around 400 people.
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The album will also be widely accessible via digital platforms such as Spotify and YouTube Music starting May 5, 2025.
When Sound Becomes a Compass
Jalan Suara features ten musicalized poems—five in Bahasa Indonesia and five in Balinese. The poems were selected not only for their aesthetic value but for their resonance with social, spiritual, and local cultural themes.
The Bahasa Indonesia works include Dongeng dari Utara by Made Adnyana Ole, Di Musim yang Lain, Aku Kembali by Ulfatin C. H., Surat Kertas Hijau by Sitor Situmorang, Pada Kematian Aku Bernaung by Cok Sawitri, and Satu Perahu by Wayan Jengki Sunarta.
Meanwhile, the Balinese poems featured are Petapa Aksara by Mas Ruscita Dewi, Blabar Momo by Ni Kadek Widiasih, Gending Pragina by Tatukung, Kayu Cenana by Ki Dusun, and Kangen by Made Sanggra.
Continuing the Collaboration, Deepening the Meaning
This is not the Sadewa Foundation’s first collaboration with the blind community. In 2019, they produced a musical drama involving people with disabilities, staged at the Ksirarnawa Hall, Bali Arts Center.
The Jalan Suara album continues that spirit of partnership.
“This year, we wanted to reconnect with our blind friends—but the challenge was different. How do you communicate poetry to those who cannot read letters? It wasn’t easy. But we made the process fun, and from there, their strength shone,” said Ryan Indra Darmawan, Chair of the Sadewa Bali Arts Foundation.
“We believe that our blind friends have an innate strength in sound and emotional expression. When given the space, the results are often extraordinary,” he added.
Imagination Beyond Sight
For artistic facilitators like Heri Windi Anggara, the project served as a reminder that imagination does not require eyesight. Heri oversaw the musical arrangement and guided the creative process throughout the production.
“The technical challenges were real. It took time to synchronize our imaginations. But I discovered that when one sense is diminished, others become stronger. These blind participants have an incredible sensitivity to emotion,” Heri explained.
“This album doesn’t just combine poetry and music—it curates emotions and interpretations born from the participants’ lived experiences. This isn’t just a project; it’s a cultural event,” he concluded.
Not Just a Stage, But a Space for Growth
Ir. Ida Ayu Pradnyani Manthara, Chair of the Dria Raba Education Foundation—which supports many of the participating students—emphasized that the project introduced art not as a performance, but as a personal journey.
“We never force them. The children are free to choose any musical instrument they like. We simply facilitate with instructors and let them express themselves. Many who were unfamiliar with poetry at first are now able to recite it with deep feeling,” said Dayu.
“We were never tokenized in this process. The children were involved from the beginning, not just presented at the end.”
Funded by Heart and Persistence
Jalan Suara is funded by Dana Indonesiana, a national cultural grant scheme. But the road to securing this support was anything but easy.
“We submitted proposals over and over again since the pandemic. They kept getting rejected. But we just kept trying—no pressure, nothing to lose. Finally, in 2025, it came to life. What matters to us is providing space, not chasing the spotlight,” Ryan recalled.
“We have a clear principle: the work must stand on its own, free of outside agendas,” he affirmed.
Official Launch and Performance
Jalan Suara will be publicly released on May 5, 2025, and available on all major digital streaming platforms. The live performance featuring the blind musicians will take place on May 11, 2025, at Dharma Negara Alaya, Denpasar. The event is free and open to the public.
“We hope the public will support this initiative in simple ways—by listening to the album, sharing it, and showing up for the performance. Let their voices become a new direction in our artistic journey,” Ryan concluded. (mybalinews/RLS )
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